Machine for opening and cleaning textile fibers



z. SZALOKI 2,836,858

MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING TEXTILE FIBERS June 3, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 2, 1954 Z. SZALOKI June 3, 1958 MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING TEXTILE FIBERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1954 INVENTOR.

ZOLTAN SZALOKI.

June 3, 1958 2. szALoKl 2,336,858

MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. o ZOLTAN SZALOKI ATTY.

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June 3, 1958 z. SZALOKI 2,835,353

MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 7 Shee'bS-Sheeh 6 9 F W327 INVENTOR.

ZOUAN SZALQKI.

BY .24 3 W ATTY.

June 3, 1958 2. SZALOKI 2,836,853

MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN V EN TOR. ZOLTAN SZALOKI.

United States Patent F MACHINE FDR OPENING AND CLEANING TEXTILE FIBERS Zoitan Szaioki, Whitinsville, Mass., assignor to Whitin Machine Works, Whitinsville, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 2, 1954, Serial No. 466,250 4 Claims. (Cl. 19-91) This invention relates to a machine for opening and cleaning textile fibers and is particularly adapted to the treatment of cotton.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a machine of the class described which will be eflicient and highly productive and which will deliver the treated fibers in unusually satisfactory condition.

To the accomplishment of this general object, I provide a machine having parallel beater cylinders each equipped wth a multiplicity of beater pins which move in opposite directions through their adjacent operative area. I also provide improved deflecting devices which direct the travel of the fibers in the machine and which are each adjustable to vary the path of travel of the fibers to suit operating conditions.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved opening and cleaning machine;

- Fig. 2 is an end elevation of an intake'deflector;

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of additional guides or deflectors;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlargement of a portion of 'Fig. 7, but partly in section along the line 8-8 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a casing member or cover;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow 10 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional end elevation, taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a corner portion of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is anenlarged front elevation of certain de- Hector-supporting structure in the casing or cover;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional front elevation of the left-hand portion of the deflector-supporting structure, taken along the line 14-14 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged partial right-hand end elevation showing mechanism for relatively adjusting certain gridbars to be described;

Figs. .16 and 17 are further enlarged detail sectional views, taken along the lines 16-16 and 17-17 respectively in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional elevation, taken along the line 18-18 in Fig. 15;

Figs. 19 to 20 are enlarged sectional elevations of certain grid-bar adjusting devices, taken along the lines 19-19 and 2i)20 respectively in Fig. 15;

4 .-Fig. 21 is an enlarged side elevation of the deflector Fig. 22 is a sectional end elevation, taken along the line 22-22 in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of a corner portion of a grid-bar supporting plate;

Fig. 24 is a detail sectional plan view, taken along the line 2424 in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of a corner portion of another grid-bar supporting plate;

Fig. 26 is a partial end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 26 in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a plan view of a grid-bar;

Fig. 28 is an end elevation thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow 28 in Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a partial rear perspective of an upper portion of the machine, with the casings or covers closed; and

Fig. 30 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation, taken along the line 30-30 in Fig. 29.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 29, my improved machine is enclosed in a sheet-metal casing comprising a front plate 40, a back plate 41 (Fig. 15), end members 42 and 43 (Fig. 6), a fixed top member or cross girt 44 (Fig. 29), and front and rear hinged covers 45 and 46. The cover 45 is shown open in Fig. 1. A clean-out door 47 is provided in the front plate 40.

A window opening 50 (Fig. 1) is provided in one of the upright members 51-51a which support the cross girt 44. The window opening 50 is provided with a suitable closure of glass or plastic.

A top casing 52 (Figs. 29 and 30) is supported on the girt 44, and one or more lamps L (Fig. 30) are mounted within and below the casing 52. An open inner enclosure 54 supports a glass or plastic plate 55, so that no cotton or other fiber may contact the lamps L.

With this construction, the operator may at any time look through the window opening 50 and observe the operation of the machine, which operation is made readily apparent by the lamps L.

The cover 45 is shown in detail in Figs. 9 to 12, and preferably comprises a single body member 60 of sheetmetal, and plate 61 and 62 forming the ends thereof. The free upper edge of the member 60 is curved over as indicated at 63 in Fig. 12, and an angle member 64 is associated therewith to provide a channel to receive a supporting cross rod 66 (Fig. 7) on which the cover is hinged. A suitable handle 68 is provided for opening the cover. i

A deflecting plate 70 (Figs. 11 and 12) is mounted in the cover 45 only, and is welded to collars 71 which are pinned to a cross-shaft 72. The shaft 72 extends through bearings 73 and 74 (Figs. 13 and 14) in the end plates Fig. 15;

61 and 62, and a set-screw 75 in the bearing 73 may be tightened to preserve a desired angular adjustment of the shaft 72 and plate 70. 7

An indicator or pointer 77 at the left-hand end of the shaft 72 coacts with indications 78 (Fig. 12) to show the angular setting of the deflecting plate. A battle plate 80 (Fig. 12) extends across the cover and substantially closes the space above the deflecting plate 70. Inside screens S are mounted in both covers 45 and 46.

The functions of the plate 70 and of the screens S will be hereinafter explained.

Two parallel horizontal beater cylinders 80 and 81 (Figs. 1 and 7) are rotatably mounted in fixed bearings 82 on the end members 42 and 43 of the machine casing. The cylinders 80 and 81 are each provided with a multiplicity of steel pins or pegs 85, which are preferably welded on the cylinders 80 and 81 and which are spirally arranged on each cylinder.

The cylinders 80 and 81 are both rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7 by a motor M through a plurality of belts 86 and 87 connecting a relatively small driving Patented June 3, 1958 92 (Figs. 1 and 2) to a, circular open ng in the upright end member-51, and a flanged sleeve 94 is mounted'in the circular opening and extends into the supply pipe 92. A segmental deflector-96 (Figs. 2 and 5) is formed on theflanged sleeve 94, and the sleeve 94 may be 'secured in angularly adjusted position on the member 51 i by bolts 97 extending throughsegmental slots 98" in the flange'or sleeve 94. By varying the angular pos'ition of the deflector 96, the path of the entering fibers may' beselectively directed as desired. I H

An exit or discharge opening 1% (F g. 1) is provided in the oppositeend member 510 of the machine, which exit? opening is 7 preferably in transverse alignment with the supply pipe 92jbut in a somewhat higher plane.

' A deflector 105 (Fig. 4) extends axially through the machine and is disposed just below-the converging paths of the ends of the pins 85,'as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Details of the deflector 105 are shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

The deflector preferablycomprises a V-shaped 1 sheet metalmernber 107 Welded'or otherwise secured to a cross shaft .108 having a tapped hole in each end. Bolts 11% extend through slots 111 in the end members 42 and 43 and are threaded in the shaft 108. The deflector 105may thus be raised or'lowered and may be securedin any desired angular position.

The. beater cylinders 30 .and81 each rotate above a set of grid-bars 115 (Fig. 8), and one of these gridbar s is shown in detail in Figs. 27 and 28. 'Each bar comprises an elongated and substantially triangular member which extends parallel to its associated. beater cylinder and from end to end' of the machine. Each gridbar except the middle one is provided'with a pivot-pin only.

.-The pivot-pins 116 extend through openings 120 (Fig. 15) in segmental members 121 and1122, a pair'of these segmental members being provided for each end of each beater cylinder. H I i i The members 121'and 122 (Figs. 23' to 26.) are provided with segmental.recesses 124 in adjacent corner. portions, and these recesses receive the flanged head 125 (Fig. 19) of .a supporting sleeve 126 which is secured in assembled .relation by a nut. 126a. A bolt. 127 is threaded in the sleeve 126 and provides a pivot 128 for. the adjacent end of the grid-bar115.

The sleeve126 extends through a bearing 130 (Fig. 19) formed at the lower end of an adjusting screw. 131. The screw 131 extends upward through a guide opening in abracket'132 and also extends through an opening in a fixed flange 133. The screw 131 and associated parts may be raised or lowered and may also be locked in position by nuts 13-; and 135. By adjusting these nuts, the assembled and pivotally-connected portions of the segmental plates 121 and 122 may be vertically adjusted to increase or decrease the distance between the gridbars115 and the ends of the cylinder pins 85 (see Fig. 8). Provision is also made for swinging'each segmental plate 121 and 122independently about the axis of the pivot sleeve 126. .For the purposes of such adjustment, a, stud (Fig. 20) is fixed in each segmental plate 121. or 122' and extends outward through a slot 141 in the associated end member 42. The stud 140 also extends through a bearing 144 and isheld by a nut 14-3. The stud 1453 has a threaded portionor screw 145 extending upward through an opening in a fixed bracket 146 and adjustable therein by nuts 14-7; By adjusting thenuts 147, the free ends of the segmental plates 121 and 122 may be swung independently toshift the associated grid-bars toward or away from their beater cylinders;

- conveniently adjusted by pivoting 116 in each end, and with a shifting pin'117'in one end the openings 182. I

the shifting pins-117 (Fig. '27) provided in one end of r each grid-bar. As the bars 150 and 1 51- 'are shifted angularly about the axis of the associated cylinder, it y is obvious that all of the associated grid-bars 115 will be simultaneously moved'angularly about their pivotpins 116.

In Figs. 15 to 18, mechanism is shown by which the shifting bars 150 and 151 may be thus moved angularly during the operation of the machine. A short shaft (Fig. 17) is mounted in fixed bearingsand is provided at its outer end with an arm 161 by v/hich it may be angularly adjusted. V The desired adjustment may be i retained by tightening a Wing nut 164 on a bolt which extends through a slotted plate 165. i

At its inner end, the shaft 160 has an arm connected by a three-part link 171 to a lug or projection 172 formed on one end of 151; A similar lug or projection 174 is formed on the adjacent end of the bar 150, and the lugs 172 and 174 are pivotally connected by a link 175. The relative angular spacing between the bars 150 and 151 may be one end of the link 175 (Fig. 1 6) in an eccentric bearing stud 177 having a lock nut 178. By turning the eccentric stud, the lugs 172 and 174 may be moved toward or away. from each other to bring the associated shifting bars in-the'desired spaced relation Itwill'be understood that the grid-bar adjusting mecha- V nism shown in Figs. 15 to 18 for the cylinder 81 is reversely duplicated for the cylinder 80,. and 'a second ad usting arm 161a is provided as shown in Fig. 7.

. Suitable beltguards 180 (Fig. 1) are provided at the the machine, and access openings 182- 'are provided in the-end driving end of members 42'and 43 to permit adjustment of the grid-bar supporting plates 121' and 122. Suitable covers (not shown) areprovided'for The general operation of the machine is well indicated 7 in Figs. 6 and 7. 'The fibers to be opened and cleaned enter through the supply pipe 92 and are drawn through V V The segmental. deflector 96 (Figs 2 and 8) is set to direct the fibers toward the beater cylinders and between the two oppothe machine by a suitable air current.

sitely rotating sets of pins. The portion offiber engaging the pinss85 of the cylinder 80 will be carried downward, while the portion engaging the' pinsof thecylinder 81Will be carried upward; 'The relative delivery of fibers to' the two cylinders may be regulated by angularly adjusting the deflector 96.

The cylinders 80 and 81 the same speeds, but a relatively slight difference in speed may desirably be provided to prevent patterning of the fibers. 1 V i r I i e The general path of travel of the fibers F may be as indicated in Figsf6 and7, with thefibers'travelin'g a more or less helical path around the cylinders to the discharge outlet-ltlfi The deflecting plate 70 inthe cover By changing the s'ettingsof the three deflectors 70;;96

to meet operating conditions.

the segmental shifting bar are rotated at' substantially The dirt separated from the fibers largely passes downward between the grid-bars 115 and collects in the lower part of the casing Where it may be removed through suitable cleanout openings. Additional dirt, and particularly from the beater cylinder 31, is thrown out through the cover screens S, and this dirt also falls to the lower part of the machine casing.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, 1 do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In an opening and cleaning machine for textile fibers having two parallel beater cylinders both rotating in the same direction, the features that the beater cylinders each have a plurality of beater pins, the ends of which clear each other as the cylinders rotate but move in ad iacent paths and in opposite directions through their adjacent area, and that a deflector plate is provided extending parallel to said cylinders and above one cylinder, and that means is provided to angularly adjust said deflector plate to selectively direct the fibers downward between said cylinders or over the second cylinder.

2. In an opening and cleaning machine for textile fibers having two parallel beater cylinders both rotating in the same direction, a casing, an inlet pipe disposed in an end wall of said casing and parallel to the cylinder axes, and an open sleeve mounted on said inlet pipe and at the inner end thereof and having an inwardly projecting deflecting flange at one side of said sleeve, and means to adjust and retain a selected angular setting of said sleeve and flange relative to said inlet pipe, and said sleeve and flange forming an angularly-adjustable deflector for entering fibers.

3. In an opening and cleaning machine, a first beater cylinder rotated in a direction to carry fibers upward, over and inward with respect to said cylinder, a second beater cylinder rotated in the same direction and effective to carry fibers outward and downward with respect to said second cylinder, and selective means to deflect the fibers directed inwardly by said first cylinder downward between said two cylinders or outward over the second cylinder.

4. In an opening and cleaning machine, a pair of closely-adjacent parallel beater cylinders rotated at substantially equal speeds and in the same direction, and means to feed fibers thereto, one cylinder discharging fibers downward between said cylinders and the other cylinder carrying fibers upward between said cylinders, and means located below said two cylinders which is selectively efiective to vary the ratio between the fibers discharged downward and the fibers carried upward.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,026 Cabrera May 6, 1919 1,701,796 Reedy Feb. 12, 1929 1,751,133 Curley Mar. 18, 1930 2,386,715 Pharo Oct. 9, 1945 2,681,478 Shaw et al. June 22, 1954 2,709,281 Sofio May 31, 1955 

